Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-02-10
VERY PRIVATE"
The Engagement" Between Aleck
Fanshawe and Louise.


1t was in the autumn that the news
of the loss of the ship Albatross reached
the small town of Haven. She had
foundered on her way to Calcutta, and
Aleck Fanshawe was on board as super
cargo.
cit isn't as though Squire Fanshawe
hadn't other sons" commiserated a
neighbor, when the blinds were pulled
down and Grape tied on the knocker at
the bic stone mansion, and prayers
were offered in church for the bereaved
family and friends. Every body in
town, so to speak, turned out to church
on that September morning to see how
the family took it, and to be able to
criticise the funeral sermon. The Fam
shawes had been a gay, worldly crowd,
and this was their first sorrow, and
those who had seen them in prosperity
and joy wanted to behold the effect of
the reverse; but they proved to be a
family who did not wear the heart on
the sleeve; they conducted themselves
bravely behind their weeds, and re-
strained their tears till they light flow
in private. The only excitement of the
occasion. however, was worthy of the
expectations of their friends The fam
lily filed into church, black as grief and
Grape could make them. There was
John and his mother, Sue and Hide
garde; but who was this other on the
old Squire's arm, bowed with emotion,
more sable than them all. in widow s
vail and cap? Who? Why, it was only
Louise Turner, whom they had always
known. Why was she in widows weeds
and on the Squire's arm? What had
happened to her? There was lively
gossip, You may be sure, that day on
the way home from church.
Il remember he qcaS kind of attent-
i've to Louise Turner one SPELL re-
Elected Mrs. Ames.
That's So" echoed Mrs. Blake.
''Don't You remember he took her to a
concert over TO Danvers? He has al
ways known her; and Ike as not there
wGs something between them
$50 he has always known every 9th
er girl in town." said Mrs. Blunt. the
skeptic: land he has been Just as at
tentiye to half dozca oilers. rs far as
/ can see"
YES" acknowledge Ms Ames. ro-
luctantly. .'he was attentive 10 nj VI
them on and off; but then man may
be attentive to Il dozen, you know,
while be only cares for one. It's
odd: woman couldn't do il: it would
bore her horribly-that is, unless she's
a tlirt."
swell. of course its true" sighed
Mrs. Blunt, ''or else she wouldn't be
in widows weeds and in the Squire's
pew; but she's the last girl thought
Aleck would care for. can't reconcile
myself to it,
The interest and surprise of this
event seemed to subtract something
from the sOlemnity of the occasion. 1t
was not so wonderful that Aleck Fan
Shave should die as that he should
have been engaged to Louise Turner,
and nc one ever have guessed it. 1t
perpleNed and disturbed Mrs. Blunt,
she could hardly tell why. Perhaps
she was disappointed that Aleck should
have cared for such shallow girl rs
Louise; and then a surprise has an irri-
tating effect upon some natures. She
upbraid herself for having SO little SYM
pathy for Louise in such tremendous
sorrow. Louise was pretty: every body
said Louise was pretty. and young men
ere easily pleased. Doubtless it had
occurred at the last moment before his
departure, and Louise had waited for
his return to declare it. Aleck had
been the best match in town, and. love
aside, this was a great blow for Louise,
with whom every body was bound to
sympathize. But Mrs. Blunt was dis
satisfied with the quality as well as
quantity of her own sympathy.
ut SEEMS said neighbor. who
happened in to talk it over-'.it seems
that Louise heard the rumor and
rushed up to Squire Fanshawe's to
know the truth, and when it was veri-
fed she went straight into Mysteries
and confessed that they lad been pri-